Most amateur art
investors don't consider the great
amount of time and effort that goes
into making a good buy. Many factors
must be considered, however, in
order to make a good art investment.
Those
considerations are both material and
non tangible, business decisions.
One of the first considerations into
making good art investments is
obviously learning about the artist.
An artist's professional history,
including the degrees they've
received and school it was earned
from
can be an important factor. The
higher the degree, such as a degree
in Master of Fine Arts, the more
skilled the artist is assumed to be.
Also, being taught by a famous
and/or masterful teacher can reflect
highly on the artist.
Beyond the name and reputation of
the artist, an art investor should
know the person or business they are
buying from. Stolen and fake art
investments aren't simply fodder for
espionage movies. Frauds and
misrepresentations abound in the art
dealing world. That is why it's
important to ask questions.
Inquiring whether an art investment
is an original or a reprint is a
good place to start. Also, knowing
how a piece of art is authenticated
is very important.
Also, becoming familiar with the
market in a certain area, medium or
even in the place it's sold can give
an art investor a leg up. Going to
an exhibit before-hand, asking the
artist questions and watching the
sales record of that artist over
time can be quite beneficial.
Getting to know industry insiders,
like dealers, auctioneers, exhibit
owners and other art world regulars
is also helpful.
Although researching an artist, the
seller's history and the market are
all good ideas, simply taking these
things at face value sometimes
isn't. If an art investment is made
in a piece that has only regional
appeal, it might be difficult to
resell. Taking all aspects of an
artwork into consideration is key in
light of this fact.
The type of work that an art
investor purchases can also
determine the price. For instance,
most dealers would agree that trying
to purchase a Monet or a piece by
another notable artist isn't the
best thing for
first-timers. Original paintings and
sculptures are much too pricey an
art investment for people with
little to invest. Starting with art
such as prints, posters, photography
and lithographs would be much
smarter investments.
In recent years, the profit seen on
art investments made on big named
artists has decreased. Yet, some
other previously ignored markets,
like pre -1950 American artwork, has
begun to gain in popularity. This
fact makes it easier to see why name
recognition alone isn't a good
reason to invest in a piece of art.
There are a lot of factors that make
a good art investment. Those factors
include knowing the artist,
auctioneer or exhibition and market
that you are buying from. A
few tips taken heed on the front end
can save an art investor a lot of
money and grief in the future.
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